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Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

popularmechanics.com

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Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#251

Post by luxuryballs »

l72 wrote: post #87

Now if we could just disable the feature that causes the horn to honk when locking the vehicle with the key fob... As someone who lives on a residential street, but with a hospital at the far end, we have tons of patients, families, doctors, and nurses that park on our street to avoid paying for the garage. I get to listen to horns honking at all hours. A few cars (Acura comes to mind), do a bit better, in that they…

2020 Toyotas have all of this configurable, you can disable the beep as well as the light flashes.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#252

Post by spike021 »

I was out washing my car yesterday morning on a quiet residential street (parallel parked at the curb) and a pickup truck was parked at the next spot behind mine.

Suddenly as I'm washing the rear bumper/trunk area the truck's alarm blares at my back.

The neighbor across the street finally turned it off and said "oh sorry I don't even know why they have an alarm button on the key fob."

I just shook my head. It's unnecessary but there really need to be better ways to handle locks.

Also FWIW, not sure why the guy didn't just unlock it at the handle since he drove off anyway, instead of unlocking it all the way from the doorway of his house.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#253

Post by technothrasher »

dkdk8283 wrote: post #196
hathawsh wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the first time I've heard of intentionally running a fuel pump backwards and I wonder whether you're right. The fuel pump in modern vehicles is normally submerged in the fuel tank. My guess is that air drawn in by the pump would just make harmless bubbles; the pump would still be fully lubricated. Does anyone know for sure?

Fuel pumps on EFI motors have a supply and return. Return is significantly smaller in diameter and will probably allow the engine to barely run at all. It would probably start and shut off giving the thief the impression the car is junk instead of being disabled.

Not all EFI systems use a return line. Some use a PWM controlled pump, rather than a pressure relief valve, to keep the fuel rail pressure constant and so forego the return line.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#254

Post by netsharc »

gnicholas wrote: post #198
ghaff wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've actually wondered. Is there a super-easy "here's where I've parked my card app"? As in push a couple of buttons after you park your car and you're set? Super low friction. Not sure I've seen it.

If you have an iPhone and connect it to your car via Bluetooth (even just for music/calls — doesn't require CarPlay), then the Maps app will show "parked car" where you last parked it. Pretty slick!

Does this work in underground car parks with no GPS line of sight?

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#255

Post by SulfurHexaFluri »

sparrish wrote: post #44
josefresco wrote: post #2

I'd rather see a tracking system attached to several parts of the vehicle. This would allow law enforcement to track the vehicle, and/or the parts if the vehicle is broken down and sold. In the United States we have "LoJack" but it's not a standard feature rather a dealer upsell.

Which can all be defeated by the car thief carrying a $100 box that blocks all kinds of wireless signals (GPS, LoJack, 4G, etc)

The future is probably going to involve simply having all cameras on the streets look out for the numberplate as soon as its reported missing.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#256

Post by banana_giraffe »

olyjohn wrote: post #201
johanvts wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is illegal to honk in Denmark unless theres a dangerous situation ahead. Honk any other a time you can be fined about 130€

It’s actually illegal in Washington State as well. I’m sure that’s fairly common in a lot of states and countries. But of course it’s also not enforced here.

RCW 46.37.380 calls out alarms specifically as being allowed to use a horn, and makes no mention of how often you're allowed to use a horn outside of the highway.

I'm curious which law covers it outside of that that makes it illegal to use.

Granted, I'm sure you're right if it does exist. There are some cars with ludicrously loud exhausts around here that gleefully violate RCW 46.37.390 that are ignored by cops.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#258

Post by banana_giraffe »

spike021 wrote: post #252

I was out washing my car yesterday morning on a quiet residential street (parallel parked at the curb) and a pickup truck was parked at the next spot behind mine. Suddenly as I'm washing the rear bumper/trunk area the truck's alarm blares at my back. The neighbor across the street finally turned it off and said "oh sorry I don't even know why they have an alarm button on the key fob." I just shook my head. It's unnec…

Ahh yep. I call it the "idiot button", as in "I'm an idiot, I pressed this button by mistake"

Ages ago, on a previous car, it was stupid easy for me to hit, for whatever reason. I got pissed off enough I ended up taking the fob apart and destroying the contact over that button.

Thankfully my current car has an option to turn off the beep on lock, and doesn't have a panic button.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#259

Post by failrate »

l72 wrote: post #87

Now if we could just disable the feature that causes the horn to honk when locking the vehicle with the key fob... As someone who lives on a residential street, but with a hospital at the far end, we have tons of patients, families, doctors, and nurses that park on our street to avoid paying for the garage. I get to listen to horns honking at all hours. A few cars (Acura comes to mind), do a bit better, in that they…

I've had a Corolla and an Elantra that had configuration to disable the noise during locking. It is usually pretty easy.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#260

Post by brewdad »

thewebcount wrote: post #146
nefitty wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Imagine this, but coming from an industrial building. During the lockdown, it seems like the office space across the street from my house lacked maintenance/security people. There were times when an alarm at the building would go off, and literally stay on for a day or more. Maybe they forgot to pay their ADT bill...

This happens to houses in my area all the time. Either the owner is on vacation, or has moved out, but it hasn't sold or the new owner hasn't moved in, and some alarm or other starts going off. Sometimes it's the annoying smoke alarm "replace the battery beep" once per minute. Sometimes it's something more annoying. I usually call the police or fire department and let them know. That's the only way I've found to make…

How poorly built are the houses near you if you can hear the "replace the battery" beep from a home that is closed up while an owner is on vacation?
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